We understand that a hospital stay can sometimes be difficult and overwhelming. Penn State Health Children’s Hospital’s offers a variety of amenities aimed at families to make your stay more convenient and comfortable.

Ronald McDonald Family Room at the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
Ronald McDonald Family Room at the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
The Tree House Café is located on the first floor of the main hospital
The Tree House Café is located on the first floor of the main hospital.
A group yoga class at the Penn State University Fitness Center
A group yoga class at the Penn State University Fitness Center.

Ronald McDonald Family Room

Sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of central PA, this room offers:

  • Kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave
  • Free snacks and coffee
  • Private rooms for consultations and parent education
  • Washer and dryer (detergent available)
  • Self-care and shower items
  • TV for family use
  • Movies, video games, and music

At night, this room provides sleeping accommodations for a limited number of guests. Learn how you can sleep in the Ronald McDonald Room or find other family accommodations in the hospital.

Location: Seventh floor of the main hospital, across the hall from the south elevators

Family lounges

Our family lounges give you a place to relax, take a break, and get a snack. Our lounges provide:

  • A kitchen with a sink, microwave, and refrigerator
  • Free coffee and snacks
  • Board games and crafts
  • Books and other reading materials

A washer and dryer with free detergent is located down the hall.

Location: Third and fourth floors of the Children’s Hospital, in between the patient units

Tree House Café

Smaller than the Rotunda Café, the Tree House Café offers food including brick-oven pizza and made-to-order deli sandwiches.

Location: First floor of the Children’s Hospital

Hours:

  • Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Fitness Center

Families of patients at the Children’s Hospital can enjoy free access to the state-of-the-art University Fitness Center. The gym offers:

  • Walk-in classes, including yoga, cycling, and Zumba
  • Racquetball and squash courts
  • Personal training (fee-based)

Location:

600 University Dr.
Hershey, PA 17033

Fitness Center services may vary due to COVID-19. See the University Fitness Center website for details.

Family services

We offer a number of services to help make your time at the Children’s Hospital more pleasant. These include:

  • Free parking: Parking is free and available to patients and visitors at the Medical Center’s main entrance. Download a campus map (PDF).
  • Free meal tray: Parents get one free meal tray per hospital stay from the cafeteria. Learn about other in-house dining options.
  • Splash Paks: Every patient room is stocked with free shampoo, soap, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, courtesy of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA.
  • Laundry: Washers and dryers with free detergent and dryer sheets are located on the third and fourth floors of the Children’s Hospital.